Cardinal Added to Shrine Game

Claremont — Stevens High linebacker CJ Gosselin was named to the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl team this week, giving the Cardinals two players on the 36-player New Hampshire squad.

Gosselin will join classmate Logan Batchelder for the game against Vermont on Aug. 3 at Dartmouth College’s Memorial Field.

A player from Division V left the team recently, and the rules call for a player from that division to replace him, Dave Orr, the Shrine game’s director of media relations, said.

“When the opening occurred, (New Hampshire and Mascoma High) coach Ray Kershaw went to his list of alternates and selected Gosselin,” Orr said.

Gosselin had a sensational senior season at Stevens with 133 tackles, 94 of which were solo. He also recovered four fumbles and blocked two kicks.

Gosselin had nine tackles for the East team in the CHaD East-West game at Cowell Stadium last month. The East won in overtime, 13-7.

“He’s just a great player and really proved himself in the East-West Game,” Kershaw said.

Gosselin said he was initially disappointed when the Shrine team was announced and he was not on it. But when the phone rang Tuesday night, he said he was stunned when was told he had been added to the team.

“I’ve been on top of the world since,” said Gosselin. “It was a huge surprise because it was so late. I’m also excited that I am going to playing with a teammate.”

Gosselin also added that he will have no trouble reporting to camp in shape.

“Those East-West coaches really worked us,” he said.

Only six players from each of the six divisions in New Hampshire are selected for the game. The addition for two players from Stevens pleased coach Paul Silva.

“I think people are seeing that it doesn’t matter which division a player happens to play in to determine who belongs on the team,” Silva said. “To have two representatives from Stevens is really indescribable.”

In other Shrine game news, Plymouth coach Chuck Lenahan will be the grand marshal at the game-day parade. Lenahan, who has amassed 345-64-1 record in 42 years with the Bobcats, is the winningest high school coach in New Hampshire history. His teams have won 19 state championships and had 13 undefeated seasons. From 2005-10, his teams won 57 straight games. Lenahan has sent 63 players to the Shrine Game.

Players from both states will begin practice for the game on July 27 at Castleton State College.